Donations

[Emac]

My daughter's school recently had a fall festival and had a country store inside the festival. They asked parents for donations of home-made items to sell in the country store. The majority of the donations were jellies and jams, so I decided to donate some wood work. I consider my self as an advanced beginner with a scroll saw and did what I thought and was told by others were some nice looking things. I worked for a couple of weeks sanding, cutting and staining the stuff I was going to donate to the school. The school actually priced the stuff lower than I thought they should have considering the amount of work that was involved. After I saw what was left over at the end of the festival, it knocked the wind out of my sails. 3/4 or what I sent was left over. Now I don't have an interest in cutting anything.  Has anyone else had a similar experience?

[thumbs]

Emac--I have had this happen to me also--not the same situation  but the out come was the same--A guy wanted a cutting of the Holy trinity that I had cut. I cut him one and framed it and sold it to him for $20. You should have heard him. I felt like just throwing the item at him. Like you said , it took the wind out of my sail. I didn't cut anything for a while. But other people got me started back and the  guy just wasn't worth being up set about. As far as your items, they were probably under priced. If you haven't done a craft show yet, plan on doing one. You will learn a lot about what people are looking for and about their perspective of your work..Don't let this get you down. You should be doing this for you first off. I get more out of giving the stuff I cut as gifts or just to give away. just keep plugging away-Maybe someday, someone who saw your cuttings at the school will want you to cut something for them--It does happen--Best regards  Richard aka thumbs

[GrayBeard]

Emac, my friend.....

You were a victim of today's world of mass-produced CRAP!
People go to those affairs looking for nothing other than CHEAP junk and want to get out spending as little as possible.
99% of those attending something like that have absolutely NO IDEA of what is required as far as time, talent, expense and LOVE for the things we do.
That coupled with a world wide economy that is just short of being totally flushed down the toilet makes what we do frankly of value only to ourselves and other 'craftsmen'.

I have a friend who, with two other women, make craft items all year long to participate in two of our largest local craft shows. I took a representative sampling of items to her house with me one night when they were working and asked their advice on participating in one of these shows. When I showed the items they were in awe of the projects, BUT, when I told them the prices I would be charging they flat out stated i would never recover my BOOTH cost much less make any profit!

SO, I make things that I like and can use as gifts for all occasions or as gifts to organizations that will use them as "silent auction" items or door or attendance prizes. That way I can place a value on the item and at least get a 'tax deduction' letter.

I guess I am just a cynical "ol' fart" but that is the way I feel...I do Scrolling for ME and not for profit.

~~~GrayBeard~~~

[dunk]

Don't let it get you down.  You never know who will want what item or when.  I don't suppose you have ever noticed how much stuff crafters pack up when they leave after a show.  I wish we could sell out every weekend. This was no reflection upon you or your work.

Besides you were not there to explain your work some ding dong was selling stuff who did not want to be there in the first place.

Keep plugging along you will be amazed when someone will ask for something & you tell em how much and they say "That's all?  Are you sure?"  Then your chest will puff way out.  In the meantime cut for you and for gifts like before....

[northie66]

Don't let it get you down.  Everyone has different likes and dislikes.  Also, I don't think school sales sell that much anyway.

[julief]

Don't let it get you down.  That is not the venue to sell your work.  Parents are "obligated" to buy something and it usually the cheapest thing.  I have left shows bitterly disappointed and discouraged.  I have also left with renewed enthusiam.  Quality will always sell, just not there.

[Russ C]

Don't get discouraged. I went to two shows back to back and didn't sell a thing. Talking about a slap in the face. Also I donated some of my work for two years to the CCA before they decided to buy from me. You just have to keep doing what you love and if you make a sale it's a fringe benefit.   

[yyyyyguy]

Just a note in the opposite direction, I made some ornaments I thought were very basic some of the first I had made, when I priced them at $4 people couldn't believe how cheap they were, Hey it was my first try!! (between u n me they were worth less than $4.)

[Emac]

Thank you for all of the encouragement. I am not new to shows, but my wife and I have always sold commercial made products in the past. I have always admired the scroll saw booths in the past and was impressed with their hand made work. I have always wanted to be able to do work like that. It was just my first time to have anything that I actually made and it failed. I enjoy working with wood. I agree with you Graybeard. People want mass-produced, cheap garbage. I'll lick my wounds and climb back on my stool at the saw before long.

[jimbo]

Emac you wasted your time putting quality stuff in a school jumble sale [and that is what they are] people go there with the idea of getting stuff for next to nothing, street fairs are the place to sell your hobby stuff it gives you a chance to talk to the people you are selling to
Jimbo

[julief]

Emac,  a couple of years ago I donated two identical crosses to two different volunteer fire departments for silent auctions.  One sold for $130.00 - the other for $6.00.  Talk about disappointing.

[Marcellarius]

This can be an immense disappointment to you, but don't let it get you down.
you can't blame ignorant people that they don't know how much time, love and effort you put in to a projects.


I think that people who visit craft fairs know to appreciate real craftsmanship and are willing to pay what it's worth.

maybe next time you could explain the people who do the pricing what the price should be?

[carlton4143]

Been there and done that. My out look is if it sells good, if it does't at least I had fun making it.
I only do one show a year now. The show is near family in Mi. That way I can write off most of the cost of our vacation.
What I do now is sell Christmas oraments wholesale to four stores. Just sent my last order. Total sales this year 1100 peices. This gives me the cash for my fun projects. What I do the rest of the year is put out a sign (handmade crafts) in front of my house on the weekends. I set up my saw or lathe and start working. My wife puts out her quilts and we wait for someone to stop by. Some weeks we don't sell a thing other weeks we do well. We try only to make items you can't buy in stores.
The main thing is we have fun in what we do.
Have fun and make some sawdust.
Carlton